KENNESAW, Ga. – The Campbell softball team started the Kennesaw State Phyllis Rafter Memorial Tournament with a 9-7 victory against Youngstown State on Saturday afternoon.
Sophomore Maggie Christopher (Awendaw, S.C.) went 2-for-3 and came through with the game-winning 2-RBI triple in the fourth.
There were three triples hit in the contest for Campbell (8-2) with senior Sarah Forgacs (Cary, N.C.) and freshman catcher Courtney Klingler (Alvin, Texas) each connecting on one along with Christopher. Forgacs and Klinger also tallied multi-hit games against Youngstown State (0-1).
Six players drove in runs including sophomore center fielder
Stephanie Jones (Black Mountain, N.C.), junior first baseman
Raven Lee (Battleboro, N.C.), junior catcher
Jordan Clarke (Capron, Va.), Forgacs and Klingler.
Earning her first victory of the season was senior Brittany Arnn (Danville, Va.) with four strikeouts in four innings of relief. Junior Julia Callicutt (Asheboro, N.C.) started and struck out one.
Youngstown State was led by Caroline Krmobach and Miranda Castiglione with two hits each, while Vicky Rumph and Smantha Snodgrass drove in a pair each.
The loss was credited to Hana Somogyi, who registered two strikeouts in 2.1 innings of work. Starter Kayla Haslett and Casey Crozier also made an appearance for the Penguins.
In the bottom of the first, Nesbitt singled up the middle and advanced to second on a passed ball. Runners were on the corners following a base knock to left by sophomore third baseman Brittany Bruce (Lumberton, N.C.).
A single by Klingler to center field provided the Camels with a 1-0 lead. Jones reached base on a throwing error that sent the ball down the right field line, allowing Klingler to cross the plate.
The rally continued with a single to center by Forgacs, who immediately swiped second. Lee deposited an RBI single into center field to extend the Camels advantage to 5-0.
Coming in to make the lead 6-0 was junior pinch runner
Amanda Daw (Pantego, N.C.), who scored on a single by Clarke to left center.
In the second, Campbell stretched its advantage to 7-0 on triples one batter apart by Klingler and Forgacs.
The Penguins fought back with a two-run homer by Rumph to cut the deficit to 7-2 during the third. Krombach, who notched a one-out single, scored on the round tripper.
In the fourth, Youngstown State came all the way back with five runs on three hits to knot the contest at 7-7. Arnn came into the contest in relief of Callicutt during the frame.
During the bottom-half, Campbell loaded the bases after consecutive walks to Forgacs and sophomore pinch hitter
Casey Taylor (Lillington, N.C.) and sophomore left fielder
Camise Patterson (Fuquay-Varina, N.C.) being hit by a pitch.
Following a pitching change that brought in Momogyi, Christopher tripled to right, scoring two, but the third runner was be tagged at the plate by catcher Rumph following a strong throw from the second baseman Samantha Troxell.
Working without any runners on base, Arnn made quick work of the Penguins in the fifth, sixth and seventh, only allowing one opponent to reach base.
The Camels contest tonight against Virginia Tech has been cancelled. The Camels wrap up the Phyllis Rafter Memorial Tournament on Sunday at 10 a.m. vs. Bowling Green.
Next home game for Campbell is the Camel Stampede on Mar. 8-9 as Drexel, Morehead State, Norfolk State and Northern Kentucky are set to play at Amanda Littlejohn Stadium.
